2027 Polls: NDC Pegs Presidential Nomination Form At N40m, Adopts Open Secret Ballot Primaries
The NDC says its new primary system is designed to strengthen transparency, fairness and internal democracy ahead of 2027.
The NDC says its new primary system is designed to strengthen transparency, fairness and internal democracy ahead of 2027.
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) on Tuesday announced the commencement of the sale of Expression of Interest and Nomination Forms for aspirants seeking to contest various elective positions on the party’s platform in the 2027 general elections.
The party also unveiled what it described as an “open secret ballot” system for its primaries, saying the model is aimed at guaranteeing credibility, fairness, and internal democracy during the nomination process.
According to the schedule of activities jointly signed by the National Chairman of the party, Moses Cleopas, and the National Secretary, Ikenna Morgan Enekweizu, the sale of Expression of Interest Forms will commence on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, and end on Monday, May 18, 2026.
The screening and interview of aspirants, which will determine eligibility for the purchase of Nomination Forms, is scheduled to hold between Tuesday, May 19 and Thursday, May 21, 2026.
Under the approved fees released by the party, aspirants seeking the presidential ticket are expected to pay N20 million for the Expression of Interest Form and N40 million for the Nomination Form.
For governorship aspirants, the Expression of Interest Form was pegged at N10 million, while the Nomination Form costs N20 million.
The party fixed the fees for Senate aspirants at N3 million for the Expression of Interest Form and N5 million for the Nomination Form.
For the House of Representatives, aspirants are expected to pay N2 million for the Expression of Interest Form and N4 million for the Nomination Form, while those seeking State House of Assembly tickets will pay N1 million and N1.5 million respectively.
The NDC stated that female aspirants and Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) would enjoy concessions across all categories, with women paying 50 per cent of the approved fees and PWDs receiving a 25 per cent discount.
The party stressed that its approved nomination fees remain among the lowest compared to those of other major political parties in the country.
It further reaffirmed its commitment to a transparent and credible primary election process capable of producing competent candidates for the 2027 general elections.
According to the timetable released by the party, the sale of Nomination Forms will begin immediately after the screening exercise and run from Thursday, May 21, to Saturday, May 23, 2026.
Completed forms are expected to be submitted on or before Monday, May 25, 2026.
The party also disclosed that appeals arising from the screening process would be entertained between May 25 and May 26, while primary elections for various elective offices are scheduled to hold on May 27 and 28, 2026.
The Presidential Primary Election has been fixed for May 29, 2026, in Abuja.
The NDC explained that aspirants seeking tickets for State Houses of Assembly would be screened in their respective states, while aspirants for National Assembly and Presidential positions would undergo screening at the party’s National Headquarters in Abuja.
It also revealed that governorship primaries would be conducted at the local government level.
According to the party, all aspirants will be required to sign an undertaking in line with its guidelines and code of conduct.
The NDC assured party members and aspirants of a transparent, inclusive, and democratic process in both the sale of forms and the conduct of its primaries.
